Tuesday, April 01, 2008

CRIMINAL MINDS: ED BERNERO PROMISES EXCITEMENT.

Criminal Minds: The CBS drama "Criminal Minds" was one of the first dramas to resume shooting after the writers' strike. The actors and crew returned only three days after the strike ended, knowing they needed to crank out seven new episodes to finish their third season. The show returns with a new episode Wednesday night.

The cast and crew will produce the seven episodes, take a brief hiatus, then return to produce 27 episodes that have been ordered for next season.

Wednesday night's episode, "Damaged," resurrects an unsolved case that Rossi, played by Joe Mantegna, has carried around for 20 years. The show also promises that future episodes will develop new romances and turn up the tension for the soon-to-be-divorced Hotchner, played by Thomas Gibson.

Executive producer Ed Bernero said, "We're gonna blow out of the gate with three or four surprises. We're going to use these seven episodes to really set up next season."